Ton Po, Scourge of Heaven

---

Cowards! Run to your homes and hide. The hoofs of Xue Laohu will bring quakes. The swipe of my halberd will cut the skies. Come, you who are foolish enough to oppose me.
~ Ton Po ~

---

The man known as Ton Po and who holds the title of Scourge of Heaven was a powerful warlord and unmatched warrior during the Warring Heavenstates period. Ton Po was a hot-headed and easily angered man whose thirst for violence and power knew no bounds. He held allegiances very loosely, shifting to and from them as reeds do in the wind. No man could outmatch him, and no army could overwhelm him. No, without a doubt, he was the strongest warrior the land had ever seen.

Child Wanderer in Shui

Ton Po was born to an impoverished family in Sunkong, a village in the Shui commandery. He grew up there, but was a wild and ill-behaved child, due in part because of his parents' negligence. One day he was caught in a reckless prank when, after tampering with the support beams of the central bridge that ran over the Laba River using a sharpened wooden polearm, caused it to collapse just as a royal caravan carrying Lady Cui crossed over it.
He was duly scolded for his actions, however his mother and father were also apprehended. His mother was flogged, while his father lost his right ear; all three of them were forced to rebuild the bridge. Deeply humiliated, they scorned their son and on a later night after the bridge had been finished, forced Ton Po to sleep out in the streets. The next morning, his mother and father were nowhere to be found.
Ton Po found nowhere to turn in the village, for everyone despised him. So, he left as a wanderer. For several years he fended for himself in the Gong Everforest of Shui, slaying wild animals as far as the eye could see to survive.

Kuai Zhen Adopts Ton Po

One day, a royal caravan carrying the Faguan of To'An, Kuai Zhen, was travelling. From a distance, Ton Po saw their numbers. But, cautious he spoke to himself, "The beasts of the land hunt me today. I shall slay them first!" With a sharpened stick of bamboo, deep red from the beasts he'd killed, he charged the caravan and attacked several horseback riders, killing one of the horses in the process. He struck fear into the hearts of these men, because they could not fend him off.
But from the royal carriage, Ton Po was suddenly subdued by the powerful magic of Kuai Zhen, who looked on at the boy with a smile. "Such strength, for someone so young," he said, "why do you slaughter my men?" Ton replied, "Surely you have come looking for me, so that you could kill me for what I'd done in Sunkong." But, Kuai Zhen waved off his assumptions, for he'd known nothing of it all.
Impressed with the young boy's strength, he said, "This caravan journeys south to Zhi to take part in the funeral procession of the Champion it has lost. For someone so young, you possess a strength that I admire. Join with me so that I may call you son! With me, you'll surely become a powerful warrior!"
Ton was at first hesitant, but after being promised a position at Kuai's side, he accepted the offer. Ton became Kuai Zhen's adoptive son and his Bronze Protector. With him, Ton joined in the funeral honoring the death of the esteemed Rider of Karsts, Chunyu Ka in the capital of Jiangjiang, then he and his new father returned to the city of To'An in Shui, where Kuai administrated.
Ton Po held limitless access to many weapons and training fields. He sparred day after day against straw dummies and real men alike. By the end of his third year as Kuai's adopted son, Ton had already become the most fearsome man across the commandery, challenging the strength of even the Champion of Shui, Xueming, its great general.
Kuai was very relaxed with Ton Po's service, and drank himself into stupors on many nights without restraint or fear of consequence.

Diaomei Tempts Ton Po

Before Ton, a tiefling man named Gui Fan had been Bronze Protector of Kuai Zhen. Kuai had released him in favor of Ton Po. Gui beheld a grudge against the governor that did not go away.
In the Zhi commandery to the south, its Vassal King, Dong Bao, who was a very ambitious man, received word of Ton Po's reputation. He grew jealous such a fighter was not at his side and, after learning Gui Fan was the man before Ton and outraged with the replacement, secretly met with him.
Gui wished to exact revenge on Kuai, while Dong wished to take Ton for himself. Dong promised to ensure Kuai's death and petition Gui as the new governor, and Gui promised to guarantee Ton's shift into Dong's service, but forming ideas proved difficult, because Ton Po was at Kuai's side day and night.
But, then Gui Fan said, "Ton Po is a primitive man deprived of civility. He is a slave to his own bodily instinct. I have with me my daughter, Diaomei. She is of age and is very beautiful. Ton must only look upon her, and then she will take care of the rest and surely he will come to your side." Dong Bao enjoyed these words. The plan was put in place.
Diaomei soon became a tea maiden in the palace of To'An, and one night she strolled down the hall where the governor's bedchamber was. There standing guard was Ton Po who looked upon her and was quickly infatuated with her. He crowded her and she feigned timidness, luring him out to a fountain outside the palace where no one else was around, before agreeing to talk with him, and he asked for her hand in marriage. "My lord," she spoke, "you carry such strength and aptitude to do great things. Why do you insult yourself by shackling your life to servanthood?" "My father has made me very strong." He replied.

"A lie!" She cried. "Forgive me, but he has made you a pet; he only sees you as his excuse for indulgence." Ton Po wished not to believe her, but doubt filled him. "You fight the truth inside you," Diaomei said, "go and find out for yourself. If you do and accept my words, then you may have me as your wife."
Ton Po went at once to see Kuai Zhen and woke him. But, when Ton Po tried to speak, his words were cut by the half-asleep, half-drunk man who flew into a rage and threw all manner of pots and sharp weapons at Ton, spewing slurs and cursing Ton Po for ever making him his son. Ton fled the

room in anger and then returned to Diaomei who was still there at the fountain. "He treats me not as a son. Why should I treat him as my father?" Ton Po lost all affection for Kuai Zhen and once again asked Diaomei for her hand.
"Under such a tyrant, he will never allow a man like you to wed, lest he might lose your loyalty. You must go and kill him. Then, you may have me as your wife." "Nothing will stand in my way of it. But, what after it is done?"
"Alas, in marriage there is never one father, but two. One which would say 'no' would be gone. But my father knew you would approach me, and gave only one condition under which he would allow your hand and mine to join." "Whatever it is, it will be done!" Ton replied.
"You must forsake the rank my father once held. He has been envious ever since Kuai gave you it." But Ton was distraught, for he would have nowhere to go if he did. "But I would be reduced to a commoner on the byways. Surely there is another way."
"There is," Diaomei answered, "Dong Bao, the Vassal King of Zhi in the south has heard of you and respects you highly. He has voiced very adamantly his interest in taking you in under his care and giving you the world. Obey my father's wishes to appease his honor, and seek Dong in the south so you may appease yours. Then, you may have me as your wife."
Her words reassured Ton and he did as she asked. That night, Ton stormed the palace of To'An. Those on watch were shocked to find the Bronze Protector on such an attack, but no matter their number, Ton overpowered them on his way to Kuai's chambers. He slew the man and tossed the body into the Shanbu Bay.
By this time, the Champion of Shui, Xueming, had arrived with a contingent to stop Ton. But, he met her bout for bout, and he fought his way past them all, cutting down dozens as he fled To'An, heading south for Jiangjiang.

Ton Po Becomes Champion of Zhi

Ton Po was received by Dong Bao with a large entourage as he was welcomed into the Vassal King's court. To secure Ton's loyalty, he was honored in many ways. He was gifted an exquisite halberd, Heaven's Bane. He was bestowed a bow of unmatched quality, the Bow of Malice. He was given the magnificent steed, Xue Laohu, a nightmare. Finally, he was honored as the Champion of Zhi, taking to Dong Bao's side.
But, as word of this spread days later, captains and other servants of the late Kuai Zhen arrived denouncing Ton and demanding these things be stripped from him and his life ended. Dong Bao dissolved the issue and calmed the people, convincing them Kuai had been a criminal secretly conspiring against the Guan; Ton deserved to be rewarded, not punished. Then, the people left, and after some time, by Dong's personal request, Diao Fan was enfeoffed as the Governor of To'An.
Under this new role, Ton held all manner of authority and prestige, and his name, especially as the Champion of Zhi, spread far and wide.
One day, on his order, he had Diaomei summoned. When she appeared, he gestured to everything around him. "Lo! I am writhe with wealth and power, and masses stand at my command. Your father holds even higher rank than he'd worried over, so this grudge must be gone!" And once again, Ton asked Diaomei for her hand.
"Alas, I have terrible news regarding it." She answered. "What could it be?" Ton asked. "My father fears a dreadful time is approaching. He has discussed this matter numerous times with your Vassal King, Dong. My father believes it is a time that will put many of the land's champions in danger, and he fears a marriage like ours will put me at too much risk."
"More poppycock!" Ton exclaimed in outrage. "I beg forgiveness, my lord!" Diaomei cried, "It is his honest observations and I wish not to dishonor that!"
Ton's grip was tight on his halberd, but it loosened. "What then, must I do?" "When this calamity arrives, you must fight as our king Dong commands. He will lead you exactly as ought to be done to ensure the coming chaos is ended and peace is restored. Then, in that much safer future, my father promises you my hand."
Diaomei's soft words comforted Ton Po, and reassured of her innocence, he believed her. He went forth, then, obeying all that Dong Bao told him. When he said, "charge", Ton charged. When he said, "wait", Ton stood like a statue. His unwavering service to the Vassal King ushered in a new era of subjugation as Dong used Ton to strike fear into the commandery and slowly usher in absolute rule over the region.
A rule which would actually aid in starting the calamity Ton was warned of.

Ton Po serves as the Champion of Zhi, wielding Heaven's Bane and the Bow of Malice, and riding atop the famed nightmare horse, Xue Laohu. He serves as Dong Bao's right-hand general with a fanatic loyalty, fighting without mercy in every campaign he is summoned to in and surrounding Zhi. A man of unequaled combat skill, his mere presence sends crowds running and ends the conflicts before even the first battle begins.

---

Folly to the one who pursues Ton Po. Despair to the one who Ton Po pursues.
~ Chen Fan ~

---

Alignment

Chaotic Evil

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Dachian

Year of Birth

159 AC

Aligned Organization

Guan Dynasty